I just heard today from Black Lion friend Tom Hinger that Brig. Gen. Jim Shelton has passed away from a massive heart attack. Jim was a successful career officer who made flag-rank despite not being a West Point graduate, which was quite an accomplishment. As a Major, Jim was the Battalion Operations Officer with 2/28th Inf. in Vietnam until Oct. '67, leaving the battalion just a few weeks before it was decimated in the Battle of Ong Thanh.

Jim was a former Honorary Colonel of the Regiment of the 28th Infantry Regimental Association and had many other honors. He wrote the book "The Beast Was Out There" about the 2/28th Infantry Black Lions and the Battle of Ong Thanh. He had many friends among those of us who served as Black Lions. I took this photo on a trip that a few of us took to Green Bay for a Packers game in 2009. Since this trip first Goody and then Jim have left our small band of brothers. They are missed.

You're on point, Jim. We'll meet up again at the next LZ.
Dave